Sandy’s Tea Society *****

by Sandy Lynam Clough

 

An Edible Book Review inspired by Jain at Food for Thought,

and co-hosted by Mary at Home is Where the Boat is.

“ As each Lady shares her original ideas for decorating and setting her tea table, graciously entertaining, developing friendships, and preparing special recipes you will be treated to a touch of heartfelt hospitality and the exciting opportunity to deepen your own friendships.”

Delighting in Friendships Steeped in Love

“Welcome To My Tearoom! Won’t you come in and join us? Please don’t hesitate just because you don’t know anyone else here. I have invited these special ladies to tea because they have one thing in common: They are very rich.Oh, they’re not wealthy financially. But they are truly rich because in their hearts is a wealth of warmth and caring individual style and creativity, all just waiting to be shared.”

After reading this book, which I might say is a Sunday relaxing read, this book is a little treasure of images, recipes and ideas for your next afternoon get together with friends. A wonderful, delightful and fun book.

 

How I would have loved one of these invitations. How about you?

 

Read on, I’ll share this book with you, an invitation to tea….

This book tantalizes our inner creativity. A world of ladies dressed in romantic gowns, vintage gloves, embellished with pearls, garlands of silk roses, stylist hats and radiant fashionable shoes.

Sandy Lynam Clough has beautifully painted all the books images capturing a truly “romantic” ambience.

 

Each lady hosts a tea party, prepares her romantic setting at the table, her house filled with perfumes and trinkets and entertains her new friends exchanging recipes and sharing beloved memories.

Let me introduce you to our ladies of Sandy’s Tea Society

Claudette. “ A sentimental dreamer whose flair for antiques and heirlooms take center stage at a fashion show tea”.

Each and everyone of these ladies have something wonderful to share. I thought I would pick something from each of their teas and share some of my own favourites creating a visual storybook myself of how I imagine each of these ladies to be.

This book describes beautifully each lady and her house. Her perception of beauty and all around her. As if you’re actually there sharing her love of tea and chatter.

Could this be Claudette?

 

Claudette’s Invitation:

“It’s a joy to be your hostess,

I’m as honored as can be

To ask you please to join me

For a vintage fashion tea.

Join me as we celebrate

A bygone era’s charm,

Add a brooch, a shawl, or a boa

Draped across your arm.

An antique dress, a drawstring purse

We’d love to see all that –

Express your style and femininity,

Just please don’t wear a hat!”

Claudette’s gift to all of her new friends is  that they create their own hats.

Claudette’s Tea Menu:

Ribbon Sandwiches

Hat Pins (cheese straws)

Sugar scones with Sandy’s Tea Society Cream

Fashion Hat Cake

“Button” Cookies

Earl Grey Tea

”Claudette purchased inexpensive wide-brimmed straw hats, silk flowers,artificial fruit, feathers, yards of tulle, and lots of ribbons…before the glue was dry, they were all laughing and talking together like old friends”

 

“Exchanging stories, it became apparent that they had all been influenced by their mothers’ fashion tastes”.

Suzette. “ A country girl at heart whose gingham and garden blossoms set off charmingly her flower-themed tea”.

Gloria.” A spirited outdoorswoman – and decidedly not a cook – who surprises herself by hosting a successful outdoor tea”.

Lillian. “A true romantic whose adoration for roses and handmade treasures provides the backdrop for an unforgettable evening at a moonlight tea”.

Laura. “A lover of books and a writer at heart whose talent for drawing people out helps to deepen friendships at a cozy fireside tea”.

 

Let’s meet Laura,

“Laura had selected a heartfelt sentiment for each of her guests from her collection of antique autograph books. For each lady, she had purchased a pretty journal as a gift. On the first page, she wrote the friend’s name and the sentiment she had chosen from an old autograph book.”

“ Sweet as fragrant roses

It is to have a friend

On whom in storm and sunshine

You know you can depend”

Laura’s

Tea Menu

Hot Chicken Pillows

Apple Cake

Spiced Peach Muffins

Caramelized Bosc Pears

Orange Spice Tea

“ To encourage all of you to share my joy of journaling. I’ve prepared these journals as gifts…I have written questions to encourage you all to do good deeds and to guide you as you record the gifts of your days – people and experiences too precious to forget.”

Here are some questions Laura recorded in the journals…

If I could spend a whole afternoon with a pot of tea and nothing to do but think,what would I think about?

What person meant the most to me today?

What was my best opportunity to show someone love today?…

Is this Ruby?

Ruby. “ An artist whose stunning ability to compose beautiful scenes shines at a tea party devoted to the art of creativity”.

Ruby for me is a woman I would love to meet. Her style and creativity is one I love. Sandy describes Ruby in this book so vivid and I love her descriptive home world. Ruby invites everyone to create shoes.

…Ruby had used teacups to decorate everything…

Ruby’s

Tea Menu

Cucumber Sandwiches

Chocolate Chip and Orange Scones

with Sandy’s Tea Society Cream

Plum Tart

Assorted Grapes

Little White Chocolate Mice

Strawberry Silk

Orange and Black Pekoe Tea

“ …Ruby tried to name all the colors of shoes she had ever owned: Pink, red, silver, pumpkin, yellow, purple, green and of course, ruby!…”

Sandy’s Tea Society

is truly a beautiful book, intriguing you into a world behind an welcoming open door of a new friend.

Six women with who didn’t know each other, but I’m sure have grown to love each others friendships, passions, and creativity.

“ Make new friends,

but keep the old.

Those are silver,

these are gold.”

I had a wonderful time doing this book review, thanks to the hostesses Jain at Food for Thought and Mary at Home is Where the Boat is.

Have a great day, friends

Yvette…x

With Gratitude for the help of my sister, Vanessa. We had a fun filled day expressing our creativity together.

Vintage Ladies from The Graphics Fairy

Linking to:

Martha’s & Terri’s Tea Cup Tuesday

Sandi @ Rose Chintz Cottage Tea Time Tuesday

Wanda Lee & Pam’s Teapot & Tea Things Tuesday